The week ahead: July 9th through July 15th of 2018:

The week ahead: July 9th through July 15th of 2018:

We have some heavy astrology this week lovelies! So let’s dive in and see how we can work with all of it 🙂

We’re still in the midst of Cancer season, so we’re dealing with all things family and home, safety and security, food and support, our mothers and mothering issues, our past or heritage and women’s issues. As a cardinal sign, these guys take action, so many of us have had an emphasis on redecorating, restructuring, remodeling the space we call home base, or even what family means or how we run our family, wanting to do it differently than the generations before did or build upon the good structures already put into place. It kinda feels like everything has been up in the air and we’re waiting to see how it all settles or if the changes we’ve implemented have taken root or might even be possible. Don’t lose heart if it hasn’t yet; sometimes it takes a couple tries before we figure out the best combo that works for everybody, and that’s the key here in that it’s gotta work for the group.

It also doesn’t help that we have 5 planets (FOR FUCK SAKE) and 1 comet (Chiron) in retrograde right now, including Mars (in Aquarius), Jupiter (in Scorpio), Saturn (in Capricorn), Neptune (in Pisces), Pluto (in Capricorn) and Chiron (in Aries). Oh yeah, and Mercury (in Leo) goes retrograde on the 25th, just to add some more fuckery to the mix (Fuuuuuuuuucccckkkk). Ask me how I really feel. To be honest, all this shiz in retrograde is forcing us to go inwards. We gotta stop looking to others for the advice and direction that’s already within us, and times like this ask us to slow down, take stock, and reassess if the action (Mars) we’re taking, the opportunities (Jupiter) that we create or show up, the lessons (Saturn) we’re learning, the higher knowledge and personal magic (Neptune) we can access, the personal power (Pluto) we have, or the deep inner healing (Chiron) is being used to the best of our abilities or if we’re even facing it at all. We have A LOT to take into consideration right now. This is the best time to restructure if it isn’t, and when things go direct, that’s our green light to get to work with all the knowledge we’ve gleened.

“On Thursday night, the New Moon occurs in the sign of Cancer. This lunation is a Solar Eclipse, and its effects can be felt up to six months after the actual date of the eclipse. In the Moon-ruled sign of Cancer, domestic issues, family, personal popularity, the public, women’s interests, safety, security, food, support, our past/roots/heritage, and emotional issues are likely a strong focus.

This eclipse is about new beginnings regarding all of these matters. Occurring in the sign of Cancer, we are called upon to feed our foundation–all of that which we call “home,” including the foundation we have built inside of ourselves, needs to be tended to and honored. We need to pay attention to our instincts, our deepest needs, and our feelings; and to recognize the importance of our family and our personal circle of friends and the security, sense of belonging, and safety we derive from them. We are called upon to get in touch with our vulnerability and our needs for intimacy, as well as opening ourselves up to accepting support from others; to offer and show support for others, without a hidden agenda; and we might begin a new project that involves improving the home itself, or improving domestic life in general.

With this potent Cancer energy, we have the chance to make important changes in our lives that will benefit us well beyond this Moon cycle. For some of us, circumstances are such that we need to pay more attention to these matters. Some of Cancer’s “lessons” involve learning to feed our souls, to honor our innermost feelings, and to get in touch with our vulnerability and dependency on others. We are reminded of our support system and our need for a sense of safety and security. If we focus too much on achieving our career objectives at the expense of building a solid sense of personal satisfaction, we eventually become ineffective both personally and professionally. This is because our push for results on a professional level will not bring us long-term success if we don’t know what it is we need for ourselves on a personal level.

Flaws in an important system in our lives are revealed around the time of the eclipse, prompting us to redo or to start fresh. Something ends in order for something else to start anew. We may be called to give up something in order to move forward into a new chapter in our lives. Although the “new” may be unrecognizable, it is important to allow the necessary surrender to the unknown.”

So how in the name of all that’s good and holy can we work with the energy this week? My advice is this: In what areas do you keep giving away your power by looking outside of yourself for answers, and can you see that by going outside of yourself, you avoid the inner work that’s needed instead? We need others to feel like we belong and that we also have a sense of community; in what ways can we start to let others in, or be ok with depending on the people most important to us? This week, build and strengthen your family by letting all your favorite weirdos know you need them, too. There’s a real power in being vulnerable with your loved ones, while trusting your inner voice to give you the answers you need ❤

Consider doing an invocation, prayer or mediation on the night of the 13th or 14th to help you break free from old habits or to help you get clear on your new way of living. Feel free to use this invocation or make up your own. I like to write down what I’m trying to work towards and keep it in a place I can see it everyday. At the full moon, I’ll check off what I’ve accomplished towards my goals and reassess what working and what’s not.

Go ahead and pick a card from above (pick one, two, or all three cards–pick what you’re drawn to). The root you see in the picture is High John the Conqueror. According to African-American folklore, High John the Conqueror was the son of an African king in the Congo, sold into American slavery. John was known as a clever trickster for the games he played on his master and for his enduring spirit, which was never dampened by his life in captivity. Folklore tells us that John, also known as John de Conquer, fell in love with the Devil’s daughter Lilith. For John to win the daughter’s hand in marriage, the Devil challenged him to plow 60 acres in half a day, and sow the acres in the second half of the day. Lilith gave John a magical axe and plow to complete the task but also admitted – the Devil meant to kill John even if he did complete the task. Wiley and clever, John stole the Devil’s horse, and he and Lilith both escaped. In the stories, John and Lilith returned to Africa, both agreeing to never again use their powers so the Devil would not be able to find them. But John left his powers in America in the root of a southern plant, Ipomoea jalapa or Ipomoea purga, a powerful plant species introduced to the slaves by the American Indians. John the Conqueror Root is now a staple of African-American folk magic. One only has to possess the root of the plant John the Conqueror, and John de Conquer’s powers of luck, love and success can be yours. Now the most famous root in the world, High John the Conqueror Root symbolizes enduring courage, success and laughter. Used externally in the practice (internally it is a powerful laxative), the root can be carried as a talisman or can be incorporated into other charms and spells. Hoodoo practices note, one only needs to call out the name of High John the Conqueror to enjoy the benefits of his blessings. During your meditations and spell work, hold a root or a related prayer card to help you focus on High John the Conqueror, his unbeatable spirit, his luck, success and escape from slavery into a life of joy. Ask him to aid your efforts and bless your life with his power. The dried root can also be carried with you as a talisman. Carry High John root in a green bag to draw luck, money and power. Carry the root in a red bag with the lock of hair of the one you admire to draw his or her love. The talisman is also said to stop depression, draw courage and to protect one from spells and hexes. If you’d like to learn more about this root, please go here.

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If you chose card #1: Your message this week is about Decisions and Direction. Your card goes on to say that peaceful Gecko is adept at moving between the worlds of subconscious and the conscious. She taps into a balance of forces to clear the mind, bringing truth to light. She’s accustomed to facing fears, and is preparing herself to choose her next direction. Gecko reminds you that you have the power to unleash the energies needed to deliver a clear outcome. Speak your truth, and do not allow indecision to hold you back. Open your eyes so that you may see your options more clearly. Seek solutions from within, and have patience with yourself. There will be a knowing within your higher-consciousness when it is time to act. Additional Meanings: Decisions • Choices • Courage • Truth • Preparedness • Confidence.

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If you chose card #2: Your message this week is about Transition and Liberation. Your card goes on to say that a symbol of renewal and rebirth, Cicada sweeps away the past, setting upon a clear new pathway. Having a transformative life cycle, Cicada assists in working through spiritual changes to move from an ending of a cycle into a fresh new beginning. In the creation of the new healthy you, the clearing of obstacles allows your energy to move forward. Life is permanently changing, and change brings forth creativity and new freedoms. Additional Meanings: Transformation • Liberation • Change • Transition • Rebirth • Renewal.

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If you chose card #3: Your message this week is about Security and Abundance. Your card goes on to say that spinning between the realms of conscious and subconscious, Spider weaves together desires and paths. She’s patient and meticulous in her craft, and has worked hard for what she has achieved. She’s designed her web in her personal garden of life, and is now in a position of repose and comfort. Aware of the limitless force of creation, she possesses confidence in her self development. Spider will help you construct your own formula of success to apply to anything that you’re working on. Enjoy the abundance you have earned, and be wise about the life you continue to weave for yourself. You hold the power within your hands to fashion your most effective life. Additional Meanings: Rewards • Great abundance • Focus • Comfort • Discipline • Realizing goals • Self-sufficiency • Protection • Possessions.

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My hope for you this week is that you strengthen the bonds of love and vulnerability with those you adore and really need, while trusting that powerful inner voice. Sometimes we need help with what we’re feeling, and validation from an outside source helps. When we keep going to that outside source though, is when the problem starts. There’s a balance that needs to be maintained, so go inward and trust what you find ❤